Plants for flowering hedges

The plants used for freely growing hedges develop and grow naturally. They produce numerous blossoms and in many cases also decorative fruits. The hedge loses its architectural character by combining different species so that it is more akin to a natural wild-growing field hedge. Freely growing hedges are only pruned very slightly to remove old wood. Many plants are suitable for use in a flowering hedge: the most decorative favourites are listed below.

Large shrub or small tree with a crooked stem, 2-7m tall, 3-5m wide. The leaves appear early, followed by white flowers in umbel-like panicles. The round berries are blue-black in colour with an aromatic taste.

The Mountain Ash is an attractive small tree with one or more stems and crown diameter of 4-6m. White flowers are produced in umbels shortly after the leaves appear. The edible red berries are highly attractive and provide food for many bird species.

The Forsythia is a widespread flowering bush growing to heights of 3 or 4 metres which is commonly planted in gardens as a solitary specimen or hedging plant. The attractive, slightly scented yellow flowers appear from March onwards, before the leaves.

The robust Japanese Yellow Rose or Japanese Kerria is an expansive, upright bush growing to heights of 1.5 - 2.0m. Also forms flowering hedges. The golden yellow blossoms appear from April onwards. This bush produces suckers.

The Shrubby Cinquefoil or Bush Cinquefoil is an expansive woody plant with yellow blossom appearing from June onwards which grows to 1.5m in height. This small flowering bush is popular for borders and rock gardens.

The Scarlet Firethorn is an expansive evergreen flowering bush which grows to 3m in height. Often forms an impenetrable hedge. The white panicles from May onwards are of particular ornamental value. The pretty scarlet-red fruits persist well into winter.

The Japanese Spiraea or Japanese Meadowsweet is an upright woody plant with delicate white blossoms which grows to 1.0 - 1.5m in height. Flowering period from June onwards. Popular as a flowering bush or for flowering hedges.

The Common Snowball or European Snowball or Guelder Rose is a fast-growing bush growing up to 4m in height. White cymes from May onwards are of particular ornamental value. Brilliantly shiny red stone fruit. Yellow or wine-red autumn colouring. All parts of the plant are poisonous.